Back Then, If the Old Hall Master Hadn't Chosen Me

The reason it was called a junior version was mainly because, although it had similarities to Hongchen Blessing, the gap between them was far too great. The biggest difference was that it did not possess the effect of activating an Invincible Barrier.

Still, that was only natural. After all, this Red Dust Chest Armor was merely a Rank 4 Soul Tool, while an Invincible Barrier was at least Rank 5.

It had to be said that the Invincible Barrier was truly absurd. A Rank 5 Invincible Barrier could withstand any attack from a Soul Master below the Soul Douluo level for three seconds, while a Rank 6 Invincible Barrier could withstand an ordinary Titled Douluo's attacks for three seconds.

Although the Invincible Barrier was not as overpowered as Xiao Wu's Invincible Golden Body, its advantage was that it was a Soul Tool that others could use.

"As for this Storage Soul Tool, I call it the White Cloud Belt." Jing Hongchen smiled as he lifted the jade-white belt. Speaking at an unhurried pace, he said, "I believe you already understand the purpose of a Storage Soul Tool. The White Cloud Belt contains thirty cubic meters of storage space."

As he spoke, he handed both Soul Tools to Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao accepted the two Soul Tools, fastened the White Cloud Belt around his waist, then circulated his soul power and directly stored the Red Dust Chest Armor in the belt's storage space.

"Thank you, Mirror Hall Master!" Huo Yuhao smiled and immediately expressed his gratitude. They were two Rank 4 Soul Tools, after all. If sold outside, they would fetch quite a few Gold Soul Coins.

"Mm." Jing Hongchen nodded, then said earnestly, "Yuhao, you are a natural-born soul engineer. Therefore, I hope you can devote as much of your attention as possible to this field. Mingde Hall needs a genius like you.

"If you encounter any difficulties in increasing your soul power, feel free to speak up. Mingde Hall will certainly provide you with some pills to help you raise your Soul Power Level quickly.

"Of course, we will also arrange for someone to supervise you while you take them, to prevent anything from going wrong during the process."

He had also heard about the Soul Guidance Concussion Bombs Huo Yuhao had made. In his view, even if Huo Yuhao could not become a Rank 9 Soul Engineer in the future, he would still become one of the finest Rank 8 Soul Engineers. Perhaps the Huo Yuhao before him could become someone like Xuan Ziwen.

Xuan Ziwen's cultivation was mediocre, but his contributions to Mingde Hall were plain for all to see. At present, Xuan Ziwen was still working tirelessly to overcome the challenge of creating Sealed Milk Bottles. Once he succeeded, it would mean the Sun Moon Empire's overall national strength would rise by a huge margin.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao felt somewhat speechless. Perhaps to the people of Sun Moon, using all kinds of pills to stimulate one's potential and rapidly raise one's Soul Power Level, thereby quickly advancing one's rank as a soul engineer, was perfectly normal. Nearly everyone followed this path.

Even in the original story, Xiao Hongchen had become the youngest Soul Sage in the history of the Sun Moon Empire at the price of being unable to improve his Soul Power Level for five years. Xu Tianran had only found it somewhat regrettable, never considering it an extremely foolish act.

"Mirror Hall Master, I would like a Mystic Water Pill." Huo Yuhao stated his request. He needed the Mystic Water Pill to cleanse his marrow and forge his bones. Of course, since the other party would be supervising him as he took it, he did not greedily ask for other pills as well.

"Fine, I'll give you one now." Jing Hongchen rubbed the ring on his hand, and a wooden box appeared. He handed it to Huo Yuhao and said, "Take it. I will stand guard for you."

"Alright." Huo Yuhao nodded, immediately sat cross-legged, opened the wooden box, took out the Mystic Water Pill within, and swallowed it. Then he slowly closed his eyes.

Meng Hongchen, standing nearby, furrowed her brows slightly. "Grandfather, I'll be leaving first."

"What, you won't stay and watch this boy a little longer? After all, he's excellent material for becoming a soul engineer. Perhaps he can become a helper for you and Xiao Xiao in the future." Jing Hongchen said cheerfully.

Meng Hongchen shook her head and said with a smile, "Grandfather, you know the side effects of the Mystic Water Pill. Anyone who takes it will basically expel the impurities from their body, and that smell is truly unbearable. I don't want to smell it again."

She had taken a Mystic Water Pill herself, so she knew that odor all too well.

Before long, Meng Hongchen left. Some time later, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. He felt sticky all over, and a pungent stench flooded into his nose, making him immediately frown.

"Yuhao, how about you stay here and clean yourself up before leaving? I still have quite a few of Xiao Xiao's clothes from when he was eleven or twelve. If you don't mind, you can change into his clothes after bathing and wear them back." Seeing that Huo Yuhao had awakened, Jing Hongchen immediately asked.

"Alright, thank you, Hall Master!" Huo Yuhao nodded and agreed. After all, Jing Hongchen's residence was still some distance from the dormitory where he lived. If he went back like this, people on the way would probably avoid him at all costs.

Perhaps by the next day, through everyone's gossip, he would become a student of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy famous for his stench.

After all, watching drama was human nature. Most of the academy's students were teenagers, so they would surely indulge that instinct to the fullest.

"Yuhao, it's only a small matter. There's no need to be so formal with your thanks. Come with me." Jing Hongchen clasped his hands behind his back and sighed with some emotion. "Back when I took a Mystic Water Pill, the Old Hall Master also let me stay to bathe.

"Speaking of the Old Hall Master... if he hadn't personally selected me back then, perhaps I would now be part of the Worship Hall. Of course, there's nothing bad about being an offering, but as the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, I have far more room to spread my wings!"

The Old Hall Master?

Doubt arose in Huo Yuhao's heart. He suspected it was Kong Deming, but he had no proof.

After all, the original story never stated how many generations of hall masters Mingde Hall had had. Furthermore, who became Mingde Hall's Hall Master basically depended on the will of the Sun Moon Emperor, though the Sun Moon Emperor also needed to consider the opinions of the other Rank 9 Soul Engineers to some extent.

Of course, speaking of Kong Deming, that man truly was Sun Moon's number one soul engineer in the real sense. In truth, Ye Xishui's attainments as a soul engineer were inferior to Kong Deming's, so Ye Xishui was only the publicly recognized Sun Moon First Soul Engineer.

After all, even many of the crucial components of Ye Xishui's Death God Tower had been crafted by Sun Moon's true number one soul engineer.

Before long, Jing Hongchen led Huo Yuhao into the bathroom and gave him a set of clothes.

In the bathroom, Huo Yuhao bathed while sensing the changes in himself. *After taking this Mystic Water Pill, my physique has improved again, and the speed at which my soul power circulates has also increased considerably.

A Mystic Water Pill can raise Innate Soul Power by one level. I've already taken two, so my Innate Soul Power should now be at level three.

At that thought, joy rose in his heart.

Of course, two was already the limit. Taking any more would affect his potential.

Otherwise, after Huo Gua had taken Fan Yu as his master in the original story, he could have simply taken more. Fan Yu was a Rank 8 Soul Engineer, after all. Though there was a gap between him and the Rank 8 Soul Engineers of Sun Moon, buying a few Mystic Water Pills would certainly not have been difficult for him.

Within the Sea of Consciousness.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said, "Little Yuhao, your physique has improved again. Wonderful! This gives me even more confidence in giving you your second martial soul."